Effect of Low Lactose Special Formula (MF-1) for the Treatment of Acute Diarrhea in Infants

유아의 급성 설사 치료에 있어서의 저유당 조제 분유의 효과

To evaluate the effect of low lactose special formula (MF-1) for the treatment of acute diarrhea, we studied thirty nine infants who were admitted with acute diarrhea to the Department of Pediatics, Yeungnam University Hospital. 39 infants of under 6 months of age who had been fed on formula feeds were randomly allocated to receive either a diluted regular formula milk or a low lactose special formula. Each infant received intravenous rehydration during fasting for 6-12 hours. Group 1 (n=15) was fed half strength of regular formula (80-100cc/kg/day) for the first 24 hours, three quarters strength formula (100-120cc/kg/day) for the next 24 hours, and continued feeding with the full strength regular formula milk. Group 2 (n=24), who fed the same amount of milk as Group 1, continued feeding with the full strength low lactose special formula from the start of feeding. Male to female sex ratio was 1.6 to 1. The characteristics of infants on admission were comparable in the age, the duration of diarrhea and the stool frequency before admission, the degree of dehydration. There were no significant differences in the duration of hospitalization, changes in stool weight and stool frequency after admission between two groups.(p>0.05) The Body weight and skin fold thickness were increased in group 2 who fed low lactose formula, but those who fed diluted regular formula showed reduction of body weight and skin fold thickness ($64.2{\pm}51.4g$ vs $-11.4{\pm}52.2g$, $0.6{\pm}0.8mm$ vs $-0.1{\pm}0.3mm$ respectively) during hospitalization. (p<0.05) We conclude that low lactose special formula milk can be recommended instead of diluted regular formula for acute diarrhea treatment in infants.